After declining for four consecutive years, the Virgin Islands’ economy grew in 2015. Real GDP — adjusted to remove price changes—increased 0.2 percent in 2015, after decreasing 1.0 percent in 2014. For comparison, real GDP for the United States (excluding the territories) increased 2.6 percent in 2015 after increasing 2.4 percent in 2014.

The growth in the Virgin Islands’ economy reflected increases in exports of services and consumer spending . These increases were partly offset by a decrease in government spending.

The growth in exports of services, which consists primarily of spending by tourists, reflected increases in air arrivals and hotel revenues.

The growth in consumer spending was supported by an increase in compensation and by lower energy prices.

Government spending fell in 2015, as territorial government construction activity decreased. Territorial government spending on capital assets had been elevated in previous years due in part to the development of a fiber optic network.

Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased in 37 states and the District of Columbia in the first quarter of 2016, according to statistics on the geographic breakout of GDP released today by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Real GDP by state growth, at an annual rate, ranged from 3.9 percent in Arkansas to –11.4 percent in North Dakota. Construction; health care and social assistance; and retail trade were the leading contributors to U.S. economic growth in the first quarter.

Construction grew 9.0 percent in the first quarter of 2016—the eighth consecutive quarter of growth for this industry. This industry contributed to growth in 47 states and the District of Columbia and 1.1 percentage points to the 1.7 percent growth in real GDP in Hawaii.

Health care and social assistance grew 3.8 percent in the first quarter. This industry contributed to growth in every state and the District of Columbia.

Retail trade grew 4.8 percent in the first quarter. This industry contributed to growth in 47 states and the District of Columbia and 0.59 percentage point to the 3.9 percent growth in Washington.

Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased in 41 states and the District of Columbia in the fourth quarter of 2015, according to statistics on the geographic breakout of GDP released today by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Real GDP by state growth, at an annual rate, ranged from 3.0 percent in Indiana to –3.4 percent in Wyoming. Information; construction; and professional, scientific, and technical services were the leading contributors to real U.S. economic growth in the fourth quarter.

The information industry group grew 10.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2015. This industry contributed 0.50 percentage point to U.S. real GDP growth and contributed to growth in 49 states and the District of Columbia. This industry was the leading contributor to growth in 16 states and contributed 0.90 percentage point to real GDP growth in California.

Construction grew 7.6 percent in the fourth quarter. This industry contributed 0.30 percentage point to U.S. real GDP growth and contributed to growth in 46 states and the District of Columbia. This industry contributed 1.02 percentage point to real GDP growth in Hawaii.

Professional, scientific, and technical services grew 3.9 percent in the fourth quarter—the 11th consecutive quarter of growth for this industry. This industry contributed 0.28 percentage point to real GDP growth for the nation and contributed to growth in 48 states. This industry contributed 0.92 percentage point to real GDP growth in the District of Columbia.